Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10^th January 2011 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

No apologies for absence were received.

If a Councillor has any prejudicial or personal interest in a particular report he/she should declare the existence and nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of the item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a prejudicial interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter. The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken, unless a dispensation has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

Where members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance, then the Councillor with a prejudicial interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration, unless the disability has been removed by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

That the changes to the capital programme as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

1.      To note the Council Tax freeze  for the Hammersmith & Fulham element for 2011/12.  For planning purposes, there will be no change for 2012/13 and 2013/14.

2.      That the Council Tax be set for 2011/12 for each category of dwelling, as calculated in accordance with Sections 30 to 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as outlined below and in full in Appendix A:

(a)          The element of Council Tax charged for Hammersmith & Fulham Council will be £811.78 per Band D property in 2011/12.

(b)          The element of Council Tax charged by the Greater London Authority will be £309.82 per Band D property in 2011/12.

(c)           The overall Council Tax to be set will be £1,121.60 per Band D property in 2011/12.

3.   That the Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2011/12  be set as £189.289m

4.   That fees and charges be approved as set out in paragraph 4.4.

5.   That the Director of Finance and Corporate Services’ budget projections to 2013/14 be noted.

6.   That the Director of Finance and Corporate Services’ statements under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 regarding adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates be noted (section 13).

7.   That the Director of Finance and Corporate Services be authorised to collect and recover National Non-Domestic Rate and Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council Schemes of Delegation.

8.   That all Chief Officers be required to report monthly on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates (as part of the Corporate Monitoring Report).

9.   That all Chief Officers be authorised to implement their service spending plans for 2011/12 in accordance with the recommendations within this report and the Council's Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and relevant Schemes of Delegation.

10. That Members note S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 which requires any Member who is two months or more in arrears on their Council Tax to declare their position and not to vote on any issue that could affect the calculation of the budget or Council Tax.

1.      That the future borrowing and investment strategies and to authorise the Director of Finance and Corporate Services to arrange the Council’s cashflow, borrowing and investments in 2011/12, be approved.

2.  That the additions to the list of institutions to the Council’s restricted lending list noted at paragraph 10.4 of the report be approved.

3.   In relation to the Council’s overall borrowing for the financial year 2011/12, the Prudential Indicators as set out in Section 3 of the report be approved.

4.   That the future amendments to the credit criteria be delegated to Cabinet.

1.  That the benefits derived from the 2007-2010 Procurement & Market Testing Programme be noted.

2.  That the 2011-14 Procurement and Market Testing Programme, attached as appendices 1-6 to the report, be agreed.

That funding of £145,412 be made available from the Efficiencies Project Reserve pot to implement the e-booking project, be approved.

1. That the General Fund Capital Programme is £31.931m for 2011/12 be approved.

2. That a Debt Reduction target of £53.9m by 2015/16 which will reduce underlying debt (Capital Financing Requirement to £78.8m) be approved.

3. That 25% of receipts generated for the decent neighbourhoods programme continue to be used to support general capital investment be approved.

4. To approve the following initiatives within the capital programme:
   • The continuation of the rolling programmes for Corporate Planned Maintenance (£2.5m), repairs to carriageways and footways (£2.1m) , private sector housing grants (£0.45m), Parks Improvements (£0.5m) and contributions to the Invest to Save Fund (£0.750m)
   • The setting aside of £0.250m in reserve for the DDA Programme.

5. That, subject to agreement of the overall programme, prudential borrowing of £5.4m regarding the Schools Capital Strategy, be approved.

6. To note and approve the level of resource forecast (Table 5) and indicative expenditure for the decent neighbourhoods programme as detailed in Appendix 1 and proposed 2011/12 contribution to fund works to the HRA stock of £14.867m from the Decent Neighbourhoods Pot for one year only.

7. That the 2011/12 HRA capital programme as set out in Appendix 3, and subject to appropriate Member approval for un-committed schemes be approved.

8. That the prudential indicators as set out in Appendix 4 to the report be approved.

9. To approve the following annual Minimum Revenue Provision: (Appendix 5).

1.      That the 2011/2012 Corporate Planned Maintenance Programme and scheme budgets (Appendices A and B),  subject to any amendments as agreed for operational reasons by the Assistant Director  Building and Property Management and the Director of Finance and Corporate Services be approved.

2.      That the Corporate Planned Maintenance Programme be monitored, including operational changes made by the Assistant Director  Building and Property Management and the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, via progress reports to the Deputy Leader.

1.         That the merge the day services for older and disabled people and cease use of 147 Stevenage Road as a day centre provision be approved.

2.         That the site be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and disposed of in accordance with S123 Local Government Act 1972 on terms considered appropriate by the Director of Environment, Assistant Director (Building and Property Management) and the Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services).

That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Community Care to approve the Council joining and calling off under the framework agreement procured by Westminster City Council for the provisions of an Advocacy and Personal Representative Service for the Borough.

1.      That the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2011/12 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

2.      That an average increase in weekly rent of 6.71%, in line with the rent restructuring system; be approved.

3.      That the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the HRA as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be endorsed.

4.      That the efficiency proposals set out in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

5.      That the increases in service charges and other fees and charges as set out in the body of the report be approved.

1. That the allocation of £160,000 from a range of S106 agreements to cover the anticipated costs of appointing a works contractor to carry out minor refurbishment works and other costs  associated with completing this project be approved.

2. That the estimated value of the works of £160,000, to be drawn down from the associated sum be approved.

In order to ensure the smooth running of the meeting, the Leader announced that as well as allowing the petition and deputation speakers, he would take some questions from the floor.  Members would discuss both the H&F Buildings Consultation and Sands End Community Centre reports together but take separate votes at the end of the debate.

The Cabinet received a petition and three deputation requests from:

Mr. John Gordon-Smith (Petition - Village Hall),

Ms. Anna Du Boisson (Deputation - Village Hall),

Ms. Hilda McCafferty (Deputation - Irish Centre), and

Mr. Nicholas Waldemar-Brown (Deputation - Sands End Community Centre).

Mr John Gordon-Smith addressed the Committee stating that the Village Hall which accommodates a wide range of groups and services was accessible to all service users.  The uptake of the services since the opening of Westfield had increased.  The hall did not require high maintenance as it had been recently refurbished.  It would be prohibitive for the groups to run without the use of the hall.

Mrs Anna Du Boisson challenged the proposed decision to close and dispose of the Village Hall.  She stated that the Village Hall was essential in providing dance classes, rehearsals and scholarships for 720 children.  Both the Young Dancers Academy and West London Dance School used the hall on a daily basis.  She noted that the user groups were self funding and the building was in a good state of repair.  Therefore the Council did not require to invest in the up keep of the building.  If the hall were disposed of, there were no alternative venues within the area suitable for the dance groups to use.  She stated that her charity would offer to take responsibility for the maintenance, upkeep and running cost of the hall for the benefit of the community.  She implored Cabinet to save the hall by renting it to the community or giving the groups the opportunity to buy the building.

Mrs Hilda McCafferty requested Cabinet not to revoke its decision made in January 2009 to extend the Irish Cultural Centre lease and to reconsider the proposal to extend the lease to 2017.  It would be very difficult to re-provide a community building such as the Irish Cultural Centre once it is lost to a commercial or residential use.  She implored members to give the Centre’s board more time, beyond March 2012, to raise funds once a valuation had been agreed if the Council decided to proceed with a sale.  The reputation of the Council had been enhanced as the Centre was a Centre of Excellence for education and cultural activities.  She was of the view that if the Centre were to be disposed of the good relationship built over the years between Britain and Ireland could be damaged.

Mr. Nicholas Waldemar-Brown spoke on behalf of Sand End Community Centre and Library Action Group.  He noted that the centre served the local community through Sure Start for young families, a gym, and adult education classes with  high grade pottery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

In order to ensure the smooth running of the meeting, the Leader announced at the beginning of the meeting that Members would discuss both the H&F Buildings Consultation and Sands End Community Centre reports together. Mr. Nicholas Waldemar-Brown addressed Cabinet as recorded in the minutes above.

RESOLVED:

1.   That the services currently located within the Centre be relocated at suitable alternative venues within the Sands End Ward.

2.    That all services be relocated before the Centre is closed.

3.    That any shortfall in capital funding required to relocate services will be met from the capital receipt for the Centre.

4.    That, subject to recommendations 1-3 above, the Council can no longer afford to keep and maintain the Sands End Community Centre (or subsidise others to do so) and that it is disposed of on terms which the Assistant Director (Buildings and Property) and the Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services) consider appropriate.

5.    That the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services be authorised to take all necessary steps to give effect to the above matters.

The Forward Plan was noted.

The summary was noted.

The summary was noted.

The Cabinet is invited to resolve, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business, on the grounds that they contain the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 3of Schedule 12A of the said Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED:

That all the exempt items of business on the agenda be deferred until the next appropriate meeting.

RESOLVED:

The consideration of the item was deferred until the next ordinary meeting.

The consideration of the item was deferred until the next ordinary meeting.

The consideration of the item was deferred until the next ordinary meeting.